Solar Storms & ‘Through Our Hands IV’

by Joan Farnam on June 25, 2015

An explosion on the sun translated into spectacular northern lights viewing in the northern tier states June 22. Our local photographers captured great images which we all enjoyed this week. Travis Novitsky calls this photograph: “Solar Storm Explosion!” Enjoy!

Jungle Fever appliqued wall quilt by Linda Chappell.

Fabulous, exquisite, beautiful, inspiring … these are just a few of the words that describe what we saw this week in the northern sky and what we will see when “Through Our Hands IV,” the Northwoods Fiber Guild’s exhibit, opens at the Johnson Heritage Post Friday, June 26.

Frances Koscielak made this gorgeous floral needlepoint wool rug. Signal flags made by Guild members hang above the exhibit in the entry room.

Members of the guild are exhibiting everything from quilting, weaving, felting, basketry, and beadwork, to handmade paper, clothing, knitting, jewelry and more. The quality of the work is truly awe-inspiring. Add to that the whimsical and creative handmade signal flags that hang in the entry room, and one can easily say that this is an exhibit not to be missed.

The opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday will be exceptional, too. Guild members will be offering a beautiful selection of handmade finger foods as well as wine or punch, and the floral arrangements will be stunning as well.

The exhibit continues through July 19, and the Heritage Post will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Demonstrations are also planned for Saturdays. Stay tuned.

The Kakabeka Falls Bluegrass Festival will be held this weekend at the park, where the Roe Family Singers will play.

Actually, this weekend’s activities start on Thursday when the Roe Family Singers perform on WTIP Community Radio at 4 p.m. Hailing from the Mississippi-headwaters community of Kirkwood Hollow, the Roe Family Singers blend characteristic old-time music with rock ‘n’ roll. They will be performing at the 7th Annual Kakabeka Falls Bluegrass Festival this weekend at the Kakabeka Falls Camp in Thunder Bay. For the complete schedule, click here.

And “Eleemosynary,” a production of the Grand Marais Playhouse, opens at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday as well. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at www.tix.com.

The Park Point Art Fair is this weekend.

One of the high points of the summer art scene in Duluth is the Park Point Art Fair June 27-28. More than 100 artists in every genre participate in this show on Park Point, and there are lots of food vendors and live music. Michael Monroe, for example, will play on June 27. There’s also an emerging artist exhibit, an iron pour and kids activities. Click here to learn more.

This is also the weekend for the Lutsen 99er, the Ultra Mountain Bike race on the North Shore. More than 1,500 riders are expected to participate this year. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday on Lutsen Mountains. All invited to come watch the race. For more info, click here.

In Grand Marais, the Cook County Farm & Craft Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the Senior Center parking lot with lots of artisan work as well as fresh vegetables and plants in season.

Also, there will be a clay demo with Joan Farnam at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s ceramics studio at 1 p.m. Saturday. Free and open to all. No registration required.

French horn players practice on the rocks during the Woodland Chamber Music Workshop.

The Woodland Chamber Music Workshop at Surfside Resort is ongoing this week. Mina Fisher, former Minnesota Orchestra and Bakken Trio cellist, the Gichigami Trio and Betty Braunstein are Artist-Faculty in Residence.  And French hornist Kevin Miescke will be the resident brass expert for the workshop. A Gala Concert will be held on Sunday at 11 a.m. featuring participant ensembles and the WCMW Chamber Orchestra, followed by a farewell reception/light luncheon. The concert is open to the public. For more info, click here.

And finally, busically Celebrate July’s Full Moon, and the start of the 4^th of July weekend with a little drama and a lot of small-town fun as Grand Marais cellist Yvonne Caruthers performs the world premiere of “Ring by the Lake” and a medley of patriotic classics at. Beautiful music in a spectacular setting. The music starts at 8 p.m. Fool moon rises at 8:27 p.m. See you there!

Upcoming

Hovland Summer Arts Festival, July 3 & 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ugandan Woodcut Print Show, Betsy Bowen Studio, opens with reception July 3, 5-8 p.m.
Sam Miltich with the Sky Blue Jazz Quartet, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, July 11
Grand Marais Arts Festival, Grand Marais, July 11-12

Detail of “Convenience” by Elizabeth Buset. The piece is over 6 feet tall and is on exhibit at the Definitely Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay.

In other art news, two new exhibitions have opened at the Definitely Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay — the 27th Annual DefSup Members Exhibition, a multimedia art exhibit by 60+ emerging and established professional regional artists, and Black Night: Die Active Exhibition, a multi-disciplinary black light, glow-in-the-dark graffiti art installation by new generation artists. The gallery at 250 Park Ave. in downtown Thunder Bay is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The Duluth Art Institute has opened an exhibit on comic strip artists entitled MN Comics. It continues through the summer.

A detail of the Sonny Assu installation at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is featuring “Continuum” by Sonny Assu through Sept. 6.

The Blue Moose is featuring jewelry this week including fused-glass vegetable pins by Geri Persons and birchbark earrings and pendants by Katie Best.

Agate beads at Ron’s World Rocks.

Ron’s World Rocks, located at Betsy Bowen Studio & Galleries, has agate beads ranging from 2-3 inches in length, as well as a great selection of jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones.

Threads (Joy & Co.) has new pottery by Jay Gaare of Tofte, including whimsical stoneware planters.

Great Gifts of Lutsen has hand-hammered copper ornaments with North Shore icons, including moose, bear, loons and fish.

Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery in Lutsen has new block prints by Gloria Larsen and batiks by Nedra Nicholls.

“Caught–Last-Light Laker” by David Gilsvik is now at Sivertson Gallery.

And David Gilsvik has brought a new collection of paintings to Sivertson Gallery.

The Grand Marais Art Colony has put out a call for artists to create a 5×7 ” piece (or pieces) of art to donate to the Clothesline Art Sale Fundraiser held during the Grand Marais Arts Festival. Each unframed piece will sell anonymously for $35. Last year’s sale raised more than $2,000 to support the Art Colony. Participants will be promoted on its website and in the Clothesline booth. The deadline to submit pieces is July 1. Call 218-387-2737 for more information.

Two pottery workshops are planned for this summer at the Art Colony. Duluth potter and ceramics instructor Dorian Bealieau will teach Creative Ceramics from July 27-Aug. 1 and Minnesota potter Guillermo Cuellar will teach “The Place of Pots” Aug. 24-28. Both workshops are hands-on in the clay studio. For more info, click here.

Also, the Art Colony is currently hiring an administrative assistant to help two days a week on either a Friday & Saturday or Sunday & Monday schedule. The deadline to apply is June 28. For more info, click here.

And finally, there will be live music in Harbor Park this summer! The Grand Marais Music Collaborative, a not-for-profit corporation organized to serve the needs of those who produce, perform, or enjoy music in the Grand Marais area, has worked with the Grand Marais City Council to allow live performances in Harbor Park during the summer. Board members include Todd Miller, chair; John Mianowski, secretary/treasurer, and Grant Adams and Betsy Bowen. For more information, contact Mianowski at 218-370-9216.

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, June 25:

Joe Paulik, Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
Bump Blomberg, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, June 26:

The 7th annual Kakabeka Falls Bluegrass and Old Tyme Festival, Kakabeka Falls Bible Camp, 4547 Highway 11/17, 4 p.m., runs June 26-28
Portage Band, American Legion, 6 p.m.
Rod & Caribou, Voyageur Brewing Co, 8 p.m.
Evergreen Grass Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 27:

Gordon Thorne, Superior National Golf Course Patio, Lutsen, 4 p.m.
Don Juan Trio, Sydney’s deck, 6 p.m.
Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
Joe Paulik, Music by the Campfire, Bluefin Bay Resort, 7 p.m.
Jim McGowan, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7:30 p.m.
Jim & Michele Miller, Voyageur Brewing Co., 8 p.m.
Evergreen Grass Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
4onthefloor, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 28:

Joe Paulik, Moguls Music on the Mountain, 5 p.m.
Amorak, Caribou Highlands Lodge, 5 p.m.
Wild Berry Jam, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, June 29:

Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 30:

Briand Morrison, The Pie Place, 6 p.m

Wednesday, July 1:

Briand Morrison, Music on the Deck, Papa Charlie’s, 6 p.m.
Full Moon Music with cellist Yvonne Caruthers outside by the campfire, Drury Lane Books, 8 p.m.

So here are some of the great photos we found this week. Let’s start with a selection of northern lights photographs. The lights were just spectacular.